Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-05-21
|ONE BOAT ROW.
by MAY EVERETT GLOVER.

| "All ready, Nelliel Now we are off,
And Arthur Dean sprang into the boat,
and with few vigorous strok gu sent us
far away from the shore.
The others had already started, and
No could hear Clara Winters clear
voice ringing out in boating song. A
few minutes later We passed Nell Gar
vim. Madge Vincent and the Kendall
boys.
"Don't be later than nine In getting
back to the landing" Madge called.
1t had taken considerable coaxipg to
persuade her to accompany US, for Bhe
stood In awe of the teachers and the
ruler; and had not felt sure OF her
going until saw her fairly started.
1--WE will get back in good time" /
answered, waving my handkerchief as
We disappeAred around the point Of an
Island.
How beautiful everything was that
night, and how / enjoyed 1t as we
glided over the clear, ripping water
that stretched half q mile away to the
other shorel l can SEQ 1t now, the vide
river flowing lazl1y along, the bright
moonlight falling on It's sparkling sur
face. Old Mahanoy, In tho distance.
lowered above the neis hboring mouu.
tains. Here and there An island threw
dark shadow on the water. Often
the trees formed themselves into gro.
tesque shapes ind arches, giving the
whole scene q strange and weird up
pearanoe.
/ entered into the en- joyment Of the
hour, with the determination to secure
as m uch pleasure as possible; for boat
ride was privilege never granted at
Miss Pardoes echool.
Miss Pardoe was very strict, ard kent
a close watch over the Atty girls under
her roof, ard we we're never allowed to
go out uulees ompanied by n teacher
We vera com PEELED to 30 10 church, and
every day We took our ''constitutional,"
or "koose parade" as the girls termed
our walk, when we wtrs marched two
by two down the principal street and
back again to the fchcol. Even then
We scarcely dared glance TO the right or
left, Leaf we might disobey rules aud
draw do Sn Miss Pardoe's wrath.
Nevertheless, We Ind formed the &c
quaintauce o. some OF the town boys;
and numerous notes passed in and out
through Q gap In the school-y ard
hedge.
Tonight there had been no one 90
watch us except Miss Perkins, while
the other teachers attended reception,
and We had taken advantage OF it by
climbing out of q window aud meeting
the boys, who had occurred boats, and
We were soon started for D moonlight
row on the river. did not allow the
thought OF what our punishment would
be, II our absence WAS discovered, to
mar my pleasure.
We rowed up and drifted back, disre-
Garding the flight OF time, and did not
notice the threatening clouds overhead
until o heavy peal OF thunder startled
uB.
"By Jovel ws ara going to have &
thunder shower" Arthur exclaimed,
seizing the oars and hastily turning tho
boat.
What chage few minutes effected
A violent wind arose, changing the
quiet river to raging sIream. Darker
All darker II grew, until &c was with
difficulty that We could SEQ. Lightning
flashed across the sky, followed by
terrific thunder. Arthur ben. all bis
strength to his oars, while l with my
face buried In my hands sat end from
bled. always had terror of thunder
storms, and to bs ont In one was dread.
fal to me. 1t wa, with difficulty that /
kept from screaming Oh the boat rocked
violently, aud the water splashed ever
us, and 1T was . relief when the rain
fell in torrents.
Put my coat around you and don't
get frightened" Arthur said In n
strange voice. "We will soon be on
shore"
II am not afraid" tried to answer
bravely.
But don't know whsther he hoard
me, for the thunder drowned my voice.
On we went; the minutes seemed
hours, and at times it appeared RS
though We scarcely moved, for VIZ
were going against the current.
Gradually my fears vanished, aud l
peersd anxiousy through tho rain, to
catch sight OF the lights that would
show our approach TO town; but all was
i'm penetrable darkness How l iongsd
to be back to my rooml / felt as though
Miss Psrdoe's worst punishmt Mt would |
be nothing to this.
arthur. can't help you?" l almost
screamed, 3D. as to be heard above the
defeaning roar.
mo, mol ait still-ycu might fall |
Out!' came the answer.
As he spoke the boat suddenly grated |
OH sand.
"Well"-and something like a groan
escaped him-'we have knocked b ole
In the boat"
"Where are we?"I asked anxiously, !
"Go0dness knowsi / DON'T
The boat moved up and down with
every wave threatening each moment |
TO loosen Ito bod and drift away.
We sat there In silence for what |
seemed an age, the water rising higher
and higher around our feet Then came |
flash OF lightning, showing us that |
we had run ashore on an island.
eve are safe now" Arthur eKclaim-
ed In relieved tone. 1--WE can walk
across here and he on terra tirma al
least. Don't bs frightened" he said,
helping me out and drawing the boat
up On the sand as much as possible.
Then he took my hand and we W AIDED
across the rand. feeling our way with
an oar, getting full of sand burrs, which
stuck tightly to our dripping garments.
After crawling over bushes, we at lat
tripped over vines, and felt something
round and hard at our feet.
"a watermelon patch" Arthur ex.
II don't know where we are,
unless this Is Niger Island. But we
must have got turned around. Fit is
Niger Island, there is an old shed
where tney Keep the tool6. II WILL be q
shelter, at least"
After trampling vines and falling
over n elons, we found the shed Arthur
helped me mount an old plough, where
l tiled To pick some OF the burrs from
my dress.
"What do you think OF the beautiful
now?" Arthur asked with
y faint laugh.
ut Is nice in time Of peace, but when
On the warpath not 30 charming"
just then noticed, during a flash of
lightning, that his hands were bleed
in1 Ha had rnSued until ha hnd suorn